Soldier ‘amazed’ at award of MBE

AN army major from Henley has been made an MBE for services to the military.

Maj Paul Smyth has served with the army reserve since 2001 and has been on six tours to Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan, the first just weeks after his graduation.

He also worked as a media operations director during the withdrawal of British troops from Iraq in 2009.

Maj Smyth was surprised by the award.

“It was totally unexpected and really quite amazing,” he said. “I got a phone call from my commanding officer and was sworn to secrecy, which was hard because you want to tell your nearest but it’s not allowed. When I finally told my family they were really taken aback.”